Here’s what we know about the SR-72, Lockheed’s Mach 6 Blackbird successor

The SR-71 Blackbird has had an almost immeasurable effect on the world we live in today. Its record as the fastest aircraft ever to take to the skies speaks to the incredible engineering and problem solving employed by Lockheed Martin in the 1960s, and the reconnaissance missions it carried out over the Soviet Union and […]

Goodbye, Little Bird: Special Operations Command to replace legendary helicopter

According to the U.S. Special Operation Command’s (USSOCOM) acquisition executive, James Smith, the unit’s Little Bird helicopters might be experiencing their final years as America’s light special operations helicopters. Smith made the statement during the NDIA Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict Symposium, which took place last February. He indicated that the most likely replacement for the venerable […]

The Pic of the Day: A B-2 with a view

A B-2 Spirit bomber, deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., is prepared for a training mission at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Jan. 17, 2019. Three B-2 bombers and more than 200 Airmen deployed here in support of U.S. Strategic Command’s Bomber Task Force mission. Bomber aircraft regularly rotate through the Indo-Pacific region to […]

The Dark Knights: F-117 spotted sporting the name of a squadron that shouldn’t exist

A few weeks ago, images began to surface online of an F-117 Nighthawk flying over Nevada and California. Despite being formally retired for more than a decade, a number of these aircraft are consistently maintained in flyable condition, prompting sporadic sightings over the years that never fail to get the aviation community buzzing. This most […]

The Pic of the Day: F-35 takes off from Nellis Air Force Base

An F-35A Lightning II takes off at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Feb. 1, 2019. Pilots and maintainers from the 388th Fighter Wing’s 4th Fighter Squadron and 4th Aircraft Maintenance Unit are participating in exercise Red Flag 19-1. This is the wing’s second Red Flag with the F-35A, America’s most advanced multi-role fighter, which brings […]

The Pic of the Day: Giants in the mist

An Airman walks past multiple C-17 Globemaster IIIs at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Feb. 21, 2019. Exercise Patriot Sands was a joint-service exercise coordinated by the Air Force Reserve, designed to integrate first responders from federal, state, local agencies and the military by providing quick response training in the event of a regional emergency or […]

The Pic of the Day: American Bone flying with a Qatari Mirage 2000

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber and a Qatari Mirage 2000 fly in formation, Feb. 19, 2019. The aircraft participated with regional partners to test objective-based command and control actions during Joint Air Defense Exercise 19-01.   U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Clayton Cupit

The Pic of the Day: F-35 carries a ‘third day of war’ loadout

PHILIPPINE SEA (Feb. 3, 2019) An F-35B Lightning II attached to the F-35B detachment of the “Flying Tigers” of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262 (Reinforced) prepares for takeoff during flight operations aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp, flagship of Wasp Amphibious Ready Group, with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), […]

The Pic of the Day: Blue Angel on a low pass

EL CENTRO, Calif. (Feb. 2, 2019) Opposing solo pilot Lt. Cmdr. Andre Webb, assigned to the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, performs a low transition take off during a practice demonstration. The Blue Angels are conducting winter training at Naval Air Facility El Centro, California, in preparation for the 2019 show season. […]

The Pic of the Day: F-35s over Florida

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (Feb. 1, 2019) Three F-35C Lightning II, attached to Commander, Joint Strike Fighter Wing, the “Argonauts” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, the “Rough Raiders “Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125 and the “Grim Reapers” Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101 complete a flight overhead Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton […]